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When is a baby girl named?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

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Girls are named with a "Mi Sheberach" which is recited when the father receives an Aliyah to the Torah.

There are various customs regarding the naming of a baby girl: at the first Shabbat Torah reading or at the Shabbat Torah reading following the fifth day of birth, or at the first Torah reading after the birth.

In Chabad it is customary to name the child at the first possible opportunity, even if it is a Monday or Thursday Torah reading. As the Rebbe writes¹ "Regarding the proper time for naming a girl... it should be done at the first occasion of which the Torah is read..." This is because a Jewish girl is regarded as one who is born circumcised² and thus her Jewish soul enters immediately upon birth; therefore, she should be named as soon as possible.

Footnotes

1. Igrot Kodesh Vol 14, p. 56.
2. Talmud Avodah Zarah 27b.

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COMMENTS

Naming

Posted by: Shelli, New York, NY on Aug 13, 2005

OK, so when is it OK to actually SPEAK or SAY the name you have chosen for your child?

Do you have to wait until the 8th day to call the child by their name?

I know we won't tell anyone thier name until the ceremony, but what about usage of the name in the home?

Is it about keeping away the evil eye?

Thank you,

Editor's Comment

1. This isn't a HALACHIC issue, this is a longstanding Jewish custom. 2. Customarily, the child remains completely "nameless" until the circumcision (or until the name is given by the reading of the Torah -- in the case of a girl). 3. A Jewish name is holy. It would be disrespectful to call the child by that name before that name is his/hers.

RELATED CATEGORIES

Life Cycle » Birth » Jewish names
Life Cycle » Circumcision » Jewish names

Shabbat

(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.

Torah

Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.

Chabad

Chabad, an acronym for Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding, is the name of a Chassidic Group founded in the 1770s. Two of the most fundamental teachings of Chabad are the intellectual pursuit of understanding the divine and the willingness to help every Jew who has a spiritual or material need.

Rebbe

A Chassidic master. A saintly person who inspires followers to increase their spiritual awareness.

Aliyah

Literally means to rise up. Has two popular meanings: 1. Being called up to the Torah scroll and recite the blessings when the Torah is being read. 2. To emigrate to the Holy Land.